Willow Fairies

Fairy and Dinosaur days are coming up.

With that in mind we have been working hard to prepare. On Saturday we began making papier mache dinosaur eggs which are now hanging out to dry in the barn.

At home I have been making willow fairies. Yesterday I set them in situ above the entrance sign, trimming dead willow as I went, along with brambles and bracken.

 

And of course we want the garden to look smart so we trimmed the hornbeam hedge which now needs a ladder to complete it. The next cut will be trimming it down a lot further.

Around the garden the poppy seedheads are stunning.

 

But the hollyhocks are stealing the show.

Luckily they have mostly all been secured against the incessant wind.

 

I have done well with my wallflower seedlings, and after pricking out three trays at home, I roughly transferred them into shallow lines at the garden. It was perfect timing. The rain had soaked the ground. I had old pet cage sides to protect them as well as a net curtain to shade, Here they are a week later.

 

Lovely little plants waiting to be spaced out.
 

In one corner of the garden, the angelica has taken over.

When I was at school we used to use angelica stems, dyed green to decorate our Christmas cakes.

 

The pumpkins are swelling.

The first dahlia is out.

This nicotiania is growing up between two cucumbers.

 

And we had a nice trug of veg to take home.

Lots of visitors enjoying the garden and we have had many compliments for which we are grateful.